Remembering Marlene O. “Linny” Fowler with Love and Appreciation

On February 4, 2013, Lehigh Valley Children's Centers (LVCC) lost a beloved friend and benefactor, Marlene "Linny" Fowler. “LVCC’s Fowler Center on Main Street” was possibly the first building in the Lehigh Valley to be named for her in 2000.

Feb. 8, 2013 - PRLog -- The board, staff, children and families of Lehigh Valley Children’s Centers (LVCC) lost a dear friend and supporter in Marlene “Linny” Fowler, who passed away on February 4, 2013. Linny’s service to LVCC reflected her boundless devotion to children and education.

Linny’s involvement with LVCC was linked to her close friendship with the late Judith Chase, the founder of Lehigh Valley Child Care. Judy and Linny worked together to promote early childhood education for low-income children beginning in Easton in the 1960s. Their friendship continued after Judy founded LVCC in 1970; Linny joined LVCC’s Board in 1996. A frequent visitor to LVCC centers, she could be found playing with babies, reading to preschoolers, and getting to know teachers and caregivers. She became a strong advocate for early childhood education.

We believe the Lehigh Valley gained its first building to be named for Linny Fowler in 2000, with the opening of “LVCC’s Fowler Center on Main Street” in Bethlehem. Leadership gifts from Linny and Beall enabled LVCC to purchase and renovate this site as a bright, cheerful early care and education center for 87 children. The following year Linny established the Fowler Education Fund at LVCC, supporting continuing education for our staff as well as innovative, teacher-designed learning activities in our classrooms.

To ensure that families in need could access quality early care and education programs, Linny and Beall were the lead sponsors of LVCC’s Scholarship Fund galas for eight years. To help assure a stronger future for LVCC, Linny co-chaired the Endowment Fund Campaign with Elmer Gates, making a generous leadership contribution and helping LVCC achieve a $1 million goal.

In recognition of many years of generosity and service, LVCC honored Linny Fowler in 2004 as the first recipient of The Judith Chase Child Care Vision Award. She was named “Honorary Director” in 2009.

Linny Fowler envisioned a community in which early education and child care programs nurtured the minds, bodies and spirits of young children ─ and were available to all families. She led the way toward that vision through leadership, service, and generosity to Lehigh Valley Children’s Centers.

Linny will be remembered with love and appreciation by the LVCC family.